When ordered to produce the "treasures of the Church" to be given to the Roman Emperor, St Lawrence brought the poor before him. For this act, he would be jailed and later executed. Lawrence would be known for hischarity and mercy shown to the least. But how is it that we, who are by nature, sinful and unclean, can be doers of the Word and care for others?
Big City Mission wants to keep fighting the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith to help our LCMS urban schools.
- Her first day as our deaconess fieldworker, she rushed to the HUD facility on our campus to come to the aid of an elderly woman who slipped in the…
It may sound cliche, or like a sales job, but does the church need a church planting movement?
“…spur one another on toward love and good deeds...” we are told by the writer of the letter to the Hebrews. Stirring someone on to serve in good deeds is a noble task and can be achieved by the Law. But to the love the unloveable, that can only come from Christ's love for you, and is motivated by the Gospel. And it is only by a living, active faith, in love, that a good deed can truly be called good.
Toxins may seep into the water supply of our major cities, just as sin is flowing in deep supply. But the church brings water in mercy for the body and the soul.
Neighborhood renewal is a good thing for the church if it is a grassroots effort that does not displace the neighbors we are called to serve. And if done well there is an influx of new neighbors ... but how will we engage them?
"Revitalization of the Synod shall come from neither missions nor more synodical power: The Word is the only remedy," said Friedrich Pfotenhauer. When we plant churches, we plant the Word, and with it we bring reformation to the church at large.
To be a witness today and confess our faith is not for the faint of heart as the account of the death of John the Baptist reminds us. And yet we know that Christ has won the victory over death and so there is nothing left to fear or restrain our confession.
Behind the unassuming pastors, church members, volunteers and programs of our inner-city churches lie hidden gems of love, mercy and hope. See how they come alive in urban centers through the ordinary people who make up these congregations.
In a once-thriving community, one urban church finds itself facing assaults from the devil, poverty, crime and despair. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s time to lace up the gloves and take back our cities.